If am not mistaken, the Russia’s S-300 are air "defense" Missiles. The United States and Israel objected to the sells of S-300 to Iran because doing so will undermine the U.S and Israeli capacity to bomb Iran. Russia agrees with them now. That means the U.S and Israel have the option of bombing Iran, in addition to the current economic blockade. This is a major policy shift for Russia. Still, I do not think this will change anything. I do not think that Iran will take U.S and Israel aerial attack quietly. Also think U.S/Israeli attack against Iran will be catastrophic. Russia’s decision is also made as a gesture to the Arab countries but the U.S continues to arm Israel and the Arab countries in the ME and that means Iran will seek new weapons. China will fill this new vacuum for Russia has sent concrete message to any nation that wants to depend on Russia for its long term security. I do not blame Russia as all nations make decisions to advance their own interests and it seems Russia thinks denying Iran air defense and making it vulnerable to U.S and Israel attack is the best strategic move for Russia. Only time will show if Russia made the right decision. My instinct tells me that with this decision the balance of alliance of the global south has shifted from Russia to China. If I was the leader of Venezuela I would think twice provoking the Americans because the Russians will not come to your defense. All those trips to Moscow were for nothing! I say Mr. Chavez be careful.

In compensation, Russia should participate in the $60 bn. contract to supply weapons to Saudi Arabia.

Very weak Russia. An invasion of Iran to get control of its natural resources by US and Israel is imminent and Russia knows it. US intentionally sanctioned Iran on equipment to defend itself. That leaves Iran with sling-shots. Obviously, Russia cannot take pressure from evil United States. Another country in Central Asia will fall into the hands of the Yankees and nobody will do anything about it but watch the show on television. How low humankind has become.

As long as Medvedev is aware of the fact that if Iran is attacked and taken over by NATO, Gazprom and ultimately the Russian state will be bankrupt.

Yet they sell anti ship missiles to Syria. This is just proof that Medvedev is on his knees in from of the United States. Good work at selling out real trade partners that would treat Russia on equal terms.

There is more going on here than meets the eye. Don't think for a moment though that Iran will be left at the mercy of the US by this 'single' decision. Although on the face of it this decision looks like Iran has been thrown to the wolves, they have not been. Russia is a big player in the 'grand game' and Iran knows that - and understands that. All the big players get involved in giving and taking in order to keep thier main chess pieces on the board. The s300 system is a very small pawn indeed on the global chess board. It has been sacrificed for the sake of much bigger pieces. Iran had the capacity to defend itself before this decision and Iran retains the capacity after it. Don't forget also that as long as Russian advisors / workers / contractors are present, Irans nuclear facilities are effectivly under the protection of Russia itself - much better than any s300 or similar system I am sure you will agree.

Very edgy move... In terms of political control could be only ultimate or radical test. Otherwise is out of range, hunting position close to tripping point.

Probably Russia did not sell the S300 to Iran as it is not so sure about the effectiveness of the missiles!!!! As an effect Iran and the US will slowly reproach each other and leave Russia in the cold. If one reads carefully between the lines both countries are changing the tone towards each other. If this happens there will be less tensions in the ME.

Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and Kuwait have been British Protectoratefor decades. Iraq is a recent U.S. Protectorate (before it wasa French Protectorate, logical Chirac didn´t support the American invasion) So the only "independent" oil producer in the Middle East is Iran. During the last decade Iran has lived under the protection of Russia and China. Now Russia has left and China has to guarantee its oil supply by the present Persian leadership or by another one. So China will only accept an Israeli-American invasion if they participate in the new Government in Iran, something difficult because Americans and Israelis will try to establish their own puppets as they did with the corrupt Sha. The fact that the ruling Monarchy of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait support Israel, with its 200 nuclear heads, over Iran, which still has none, is a demonstration of their submission. Why a Muslim nation like Saudi Arabia supports Israel´s 200 nuclear weapons but wants a War against Iran which still has none (even if perhaps they will be able to produce 2 or 3 nuclear heads in a couple of years)? Why this different treatment? Because they are British colonies.

Medvedev is just the front man for this decision. I feel sure that Putin agrees with the decision and was part of making it. And, it is the right decision based on UN sanctions. China also should not sell them because they were part of the sanctions decision making.

September 23, 2010, 00:54, RasPutin wrote > Probably Russia did not sell the S300 to Iran as it is not so sure about the effectiveness of the missiles!!!! That is a good point, but I think Russia is aware of how effective/ineffective the system is under "hi-tech" assault. However, they probably do not want the world and especially their own citizens to see the result IF an attack should occur. > As an effect Iran and the US will slowly reproach each other and leave Russia in the cold. If one reads carefully between the lines both countries are changing the tone towards each other. If this happens there will be less tensions in the ME. The US will not leave Russia in the cold. The US and Russia will become close allies over the next several years to counter China. It is the political way of the world.

This decision not to sell the S300 to Iran, suddenly is not really so dramatic, since for some months now the Russian government has already said they were to put this sale on hold, after they decided to go along with sanctions against Iran. It was expected. It is the additional statements that cause concern. The sale of any armament to Iran plus the use of Russian territory for such armament to reach Iran, certain Iranian nuclear scientists, technicians etc are to be persona non gratis in Russia and no financial assistance to Iran in connection to weaponry. These statement are a prelude to a break in diplomatic relations at some point and can have a reciprocal nature. There is also the question of the Busher nuclear facility, which has just been fired up. The terms of the agreement are that the spent fuel rods must be returned to Russia. Who then is to accompany these fuel rods to Russia and they must cross Russian territory? On the question of armaments, Iran has already shown that its people are technologically advanced enough to produce their own weapons. I am certain that Iran can produce an anti missile defense system of the same as the S300 or maybe even more advanced maybe. As for any country in the region, like Israel and its ally US to make an attack on Iran would be their nemesis. I do not think that Iran would sit back and do nothing if one day Israeli and US missiles came raining down on Iran as some sort of warning. Such an act would be an act of war and I believe that Iran would respond, eg an American frigate or aircraft carrier might be sunk in the Persian Gulf, Israels nuclear facilities and their dumps of chemical and biological weapons might come under attack. Where does all this lead? An inferno in the whole region that no one will be able to put out. How the Iranian government responds to the latest news from Russia? I think that the Iranians will keep their cool and express their regrets, which might enrage their antagonists.

I am in agreement with The Old Man. There is a bigger picture to this than what meets the eye and we really do not know even who the real players are. I mean sure, we know the name of the countries involved and who their presidents are. But the real players are behind the scene and we can only hope that they will be good to us and play fair.It's a scary world but we shouldn't worry about what tomorrow brings. All will be good in the end. And this deal that's going on, is nothing more than a pawn in the greater arena of the world. This means very little and much less than people are making it out to be.

“There is saying agreement with Russia is not worth the paper it is written”. This is all understandable Russians are causation and America and Israel are the Master of Caucasian race. So it is understandable that Russia does not dare to disobey the Masters.

RT: "The deal, estimated to be worth around US$1 billion, was signed back in 2007. However, as yet no missiles have been delivered to Iran but the contract still has not been cancelled and the authorities are saying they are waiting for Iran’s reaction to the announcement, and how the decision is going to be taken by president." The Russian Federation has been exposed for what she really is - just an empty matryoshka doll that will bend to the demands of America and Israel. Iran would be wiser to make arrangements with China and leave RF to her own fate. President Teddy Roosevelt in 1904 described Russians as race of people who can never be counted on to keep their word and will deceive others as soon as it suits them. The Iranians have learned a lesson about Russians that they will not soon forget.

Luisa is right. As I explained in an other topic; it seems to me that the Russian leadership has to be revised. Businessmen with cash-registers instead of brain must move out.The imperialist want all the natural resources of that region, as they have done everywhere else. So far the price is high and America has more and more financial difficulties. N-PiPO is in a corner; the elections are near. Something will have to be done quickly; and to prevent an other butchery, S-300 .Russian missiles must be out of the way. Consequently; if the worst happen, Speeches from Moscow or from the United-Nations will mean nothing: Russia's credibility will be equal to zero... JCM

September 22, 2010, 16:45, Enrique wrote > In compensation, Russia should participate in the $60 bn. contract to supply weapons to Saudi Arabia. ================== Submissive do not get to dictate anything to anyone.Lot of times playing submissive is a wise choice, watch the bullies on RT and Al-Jazeera spill their blood for a change.

eskimosurfer I do agree with you that Old Man outlines a succinct and credible scenario of why Russia may have decided not transfer S-300 air defense system to Iran. But I want to deviate from his position for the following reasons: first, international relations in particular and politics in general is as much about creating perception as it is about real deal making behind the scenes. In this sense, this humiliating capitulation of Russia’s political leaders to the designs of Washington sends a chilling message throughout the global south. Second, and this related to my first point, the Americans and Iranians also know that Israel and the U.S will not bomb the recently opened Iranian nuclear plant. However, there is no evidence that Russia will protect other Iranian research facilities with important military objectives. So, the denial Iran to comprehensive air defense was and still is great blunder in the part of Russia whether the U.S/Israel attack or not attack Iran. I do still stand by my first comment that this was a major strategic blunder in the part of Russia and a major strategic victory for the United States.

Please see this link. It contains a point of view which supports mine and other's view that Russia has now opted for being ---Integrated into the U.S led NATO camp. Only Russia will discover that this is very bad move for Russia both in the long term and in the very short term as well. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21157